Brighton’s no stranger to a celebration; throughout the year, you’ll find a wide range of parties and community events you can tag along to for a few fun-filled hours with the friendly local population. However, none quite compare to Brighton Pride, which takes over the city in the first week of August each and every year.
Brighton Pride
Brighton Pride
Brighton Pride
Brighton nightlife
Brighton nightlife
As you would probably expect, in the unofficial ‘Gay Capital’ of the UK, Pride is a popular event in people’s diaries. Brighton Pride is widely seen to be the single best LGBT+ event in the UK. In fact, it’s become quite the phenomenon; people pack their costumes and jet in from all around the world just to experience the excitement and unique atmosphere of Brighton Pride.
If you aren’t aware of pride events, they are celebrations of the LGBT+ community that champion equality and diversity in an attempt to eliminate discrimination once and for all. Each Brighton Pride is different from the next but, by and large, the format remains the same. It takes place over three days at the beginning of August and consists of an incredible parade through the city centre, a festival in Preston Park, a Pride Dog Show, the Pride Village Party – which takes over St. James Street and the seafront – along with more club nights and parties than you can shake a feather boa at. A relatively new addition to the three-day weekend is a celebrated Arts and Film Festival.
It’s a recipe that people enjoy revelling in. Every year, more than 400,000 people come to the city for Brighton Pride. The day of the Pride Parade alone brings in 2% of Brighton and Hove’s annual visitors, as well as an estimated £18 million for the city’s economy. We don’t think anyone could have imagined the original 1972 demonstration growing into the beautiful beast that Brighton Pride has become today.
Not only is it a popular place for visitors, but performers are keen to come to Brighton over pride weekend. Over the years, some huge names have played in front of thousands on the festival stage in Preston Park, including the likes of Paloma Faith, The Human League, Fatboy Slim, Dua Lipa, Pet Shop Boys and even Britney Spears in 2018.
If you’re thinking of coming to the city for Brighton Pride, be sure to book a room at our Brighton City Centre (North Street) hotel. It’s little over a mile away from the action at Preston Park, a short walk from the seafront, right on the edge of The Lanes, and close to some of the best nightlife in Brighton.